invasive weed ?

this appeared last year and has reappeared again this year. its covered about 4 sq m already.does anyone recognise it and how should i deal with it? i imagine ill have to dig it out. thanks.

 

:( Get shot quick !

http://www.dgsgardening.btinternet.co.uk/ground-elder.htm

http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles0505/groundelder.asp

http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/organicweeds/weed_information/weed.php?id=120

 

That looks like the dreaded ground elder.

 

ahh thats all i need, my backs already broke from digging out new beds this past few weeks. guess ill have to get stuck in tomorrow.

 

Will i ever learn? I thought that looked like mint.

 

It probably needs the bulk to be dug out. Then try a glyphosphate weedkiller. Put some weedkiller in a polythene bag, stuff some leaves in it and seal the bag and leave it for a week or two. This method is similar to constantly treating it for days or weeks on end. As glyphosphate is a systemic weed killer it will transmit the poison through the plant and down to its roots which it kills. Because the poison travels a long way it takes a while to act.

 

:eek: Just seen a picture of my most hated thug - ground elder, overwhelming a dandelion. From the look of the amount of leaves, you got a real good amount there I wish you luck with your attempt to irradicate. Any idea where it is coming from - cos as well as treating what you got, stopping the entry may be an idea.

 

I actually like the variegated version of this plant. It also spreads rapidly but not as bad as the species (it may in warmer climates). If I am trying to kill a weed like this among plants that I want to keep I often use weed killer applied with a paint brush and rubber gloves.

 

I hope you win the war against this tig! We think ours is gone and then it comes back again. You can eat it (no kidding!) but our neighbour next door, from where ours comes from, said he tried that but it was not really to his taste. You have to eat it young and tender as the older leaves taste bitter.

 

Another thing along with snails for which we have to thank the Romans. They brought both of them to Britain!

 

dug the lot out today, well at least all i could see, including about 3m of turf it had spread into. im sure itll be back again soon so ill be keeping vigil. ive no idea how it arrived though im suspecting some soil i imported, mind you it hasnt appeared anywhere else ive put the soil. maybe a bird dropped a seed , that is if the thing flowers, i didnt see any flowers on it last year. going to redo the entire bed towards the end of summer but ill keep planting to a bare minimum until im sure ive got rid . thanks all.